Last season’s runners up Lautoka has kept its semi-finals hopes alive after beating neighbours and arch rivals Nadi 2-1 in their second clash of the 2015 INKK Mobile Battle Of Giants at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori tonight.

‘Viti Ruve’ ready for world qualifiers

The Fiji women’s cricket team (Viti Ruve) is in the final stages of preparation for the East Asia Pacific (EAP) Women’s T20 Qualifier in Vanuatu on May 14-19.

Fiji will take on Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Japan, Samoa and Papua New Guinea. Winning the qualifier will earn Fiji a spot to compete in the World Cricket League in Europe.

“It’s only the third year Fiji’s had a National Women’s Team, but already the team is renowned having beaten Vanuatu and the Australian Hastings River team at last year’s EAP T20,” Cricket Fiji development officer and assistant coach for the team Ruci Kawai said in a statement.

“This tournament is very important to the girls because the top team qualifies to go to Europe and compete in the internationally prestigious World Cricket League.

“Usually the team trains twice a week but in the fortnight leading-up to the competition it’s daily training and fitness, until we get on the plane next Saturday the 12th of May,” she said.

The national team wrap-up preparation next Friday and they fly out Saturday.